After a disappointing 2-0 loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia has opted to cancel their scheduled friendly match against Ivory Coast on Thursday.
Under the guidance of Coach Moses Sichone, the team is currently in Murcia, Spain, putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco.
The lead-up to the tournament has been challenging for the 2012 African champions. Machacha Shapande, General Secretary of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), confirmed the cancellation of a friendly match, citing time constraints that required adjustments for player recovery after the recent defeat to the DRC, as it fell within a crucial five-day window before the AFCON finals.
With three consecutive friendlies without a victory, including matches against South Africa and Angola, there’s growing concern back home.
When is Zambia concluding their training camp in Spain? Sichone and his squad will wrap up their week-long camp on Friday. Most players have reported to training, except for Italy-based Lameck Banda and Obino Chisala, who will head directly to Morocco.
Zambia will face tough competition in Group A, alongside Morocco, Mali, and Comoros. The team will kick off their AFCON journey against Mali on Monday, followed by a match against Comoros the following Thursday.
